Pitkin Chert

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JLGraham	Pitkin Chert	Lead	[-]
Posts: 3 (10/19/08 5:51 PM) Reply Quote More My Recent Posts Message Me Connection Blocking Invite Ignore User's Posts	Tags : flint, chert, knapping, arrowhead, pitkin Anyone here ever tried Pitkin Chert for knapping? I have a source of the stuff near my home, an ample supply to say the least. I must admit, it makes some of the most beautiful points. It's deep dark black and looks glassy. On the other hand, it takes a seriously skilled flintknapper to work it. Don Rogers is about the best I've seen with the stuff. I sold him some a couple of years back and he emailed me a fabulous pic of a pinetree he got out of it. Personally, I can't do anything with the stuff. It is not chalky at all, actually looks very glassy, but you really have to have a powerful arm and wrist to work it. It's strange stuff as when you break a flake off for the first time, you smell an extremely oily odor in the air, like motor oil. Anyone else here ever tried working it?
lithicchipper		#1	[-]
Posts: 2 (10/19/08 7:25 PM) Reply Quote More My Recent Posts Message Me Connection Blocking Invite Ignore User's Posts	That's Pitkin! I have worked the chert, but only small pieces, most less than 3 inches. The "literature" indicates that pitkin chert runs from the Batesville, Arkansas area to Muskogee, Oklahoma with the largest outcroping at the south end of Boat Mountain near Bellefonte, Arkansas. I believe pitkin to be the same or very closely related to Bayou Manard chert found in Eastern Oklahoma. I like working the stuff because it can be worked raw and makes nice looking points. If you have a good source you may want to put a couple of guard dogs on it.
rhymeswithwhat	Candy Rock	#2	[-]
Posts: 260 (10/19/08 9:18 PM) Reply Quote More My Recent Posts Message Me Connection Blocking Invite Ignore User's Posts	Pitkin Chert sounds like my favorite. In my Western New York area the highest grade of Onondaga Chert with the highest percentage of Silica is jet black and glassy and smells like fuel oil when fractured. The oil content in Onondaga is the reason that heat treatment is not recommended. The oil expands when heated and fractures or explodes Onondaga. The rock seriously degrades at only 400 degrees and becomes crumbly from the heat if it is the high grade black. It is a strong chert, however it is easy to knapp and homogenous in that high grade and very predictable. The strength of the rock just means that your platforms need to be stronger and well abraded for your purcussion and pressure flake tools. A little more muscle is needed too. A nicely made large point or blade knapped from Black Onondaga will ping like a bell when struck. The lower grades that are less glossy, get lighter and lighter grey and mottled and are more difficult to work. The black is actually the candy rock of Onondaga Chert. . If your Pitkin is like that, I really agree with Lithicchipper.....Put a couple of guard dogs on it!!! I'd like to see pix, Heck, I'd like to have a bucket full, it is really hard to find around here. Gary Abbatte Last Edited By: rhymeswithwhat 10/19/08 9:34 PM. Edited 1 times.
bogman102		#3	[-]
Posts: 57 (10/20/08 3:09 AM) Reply Quote More My Recent Posts Message Me Connection Blocking Invite Ignore User's Posts	Gary, it does sound like long distance Onondaga doesn't it!
JLGraham	Candy?	#4	[-]
Posts: 4 (10/20/08 7:05 AM) Reply Quote More My Recent Posts Message Me Connection Blocking Invite Ignore User's Posts	You guys really like this stuff? You must be experienced knappers. Personally, my favorite is Ky Hornestone, the kind that Mark Waltrip sells. I love the points that Pitkin makes, just not used to the strength of the material. I kind of figured that heat treating would not be a good idea once I got a whiff of that oily smell. But, if anyone wants any of this stuff, I find it in small chunks, 2-4 inches roughly, and do have an ample supply of it. Contact Mark, as he handles the financial end of things (aka KyMountainMan), and he will set you up. I'd like to see some points you guys can make out of this stuff anyway.
CurtisSmith		#5	[-]
Posts: 177 (10/20/08 5:09 PM) Reply Quote More My Recent Posts Message Me Connection Blocking Invite Ignore User's Posts	I have about 100 lbs of this stuff and the biggest problem with it is that most of it is small and the bigger pieces are full of cracks. It also varies in quality a great deal. I know a roadcut where you can get some large pieces, 4 to 6 plus inches, but they are the tougher variety and is more like silicified shale. Most of what I have is 2 to 4 inches but I also have some larger, almost 9 inch pieces that I have to work the cracks out but I think they will stay large. There is a man that usually comes to the Water Creek Knap-in that usually has some large pieces but they do have cracks in them usually. Other than the size and the cracks the material itself is superb and easy to knap. Curtis
BOHUNTER		#6	[-]
Posts: 667 (10/20/08 8:26 PM) Reply Quote More My Recent Posts Message Me Connection Blocking Invite Ignore User's Posts	U hear ya Curtis...Pitkin is SUPER if its the SLICK stuff...otherwise its horrible...and a few cracks here and there and here and there and usually come in Multiples...LOL But hiGrade is killer and small.. Look at the Daltons made from Pitkin..ALL SMALL!! STEVE Remember to Bevel the Right hand side Tip to Base!
KYMountainMan		#7	[-]
Posts: 65 (10/20/08 9:22 PM) Reply Quote More My Recent Posts Message Me Connection Blocking Invite Ignore User's Posts	Just contact me if you want some Pitkin. The average size is between 2 1/2" to 4" long & wide. $1.50 a pound is a good deal on this stuff. Shipping depends on the quantity.
rhymeswithwhat	Pitkin Chert	#8	[-]
Posts: 261 (10/21/08 8:51 AM) Reply Quote More My Recent Posts Message Me Connection Blocking Invite Ignore User's Posts	It didn't take too much of a search. 107 Black Pitkin Chert points were found in Cahokia Mound #1/cache1550. The bottom row shows points in Pitkin Chert from that Cahokia cache: I want to make some of those. Rhymes
TimmyReed		#9	[-]
Posts: 384 (10/21/08 9:26 AM) Reply Quote More My Recent Posts Message Me Connection Blocking Invite Ignore User's Posts	Does low grade pitkin feel rough? I have some black arrowhead fragments from an indian shelter and I still havent ID'd the rock source.
JLGraham	Low grade Pitkin	#10	[-]
Posts: 6 (10/21/08 7:06 PM) Reply Quote More My Recent Posts Message Me Connection Blocking Invite Ignore User's Posts	Low Grade Pitkin can feel rough, but if it does, than it is REALLY low grade. I have both high and low grade in my area. High is glassy, and finding the chunks without cracks in them can be tricky, but they are there if you're willing to put some time into looking. I gathered 40 pounds of the stuff today and it took me about 1.5 hours. Not bad I suppose. The low grade stuff is a dark gray to black color. Some has stripes of a lighter color in it. It can be a pain in the butt to work, but in my opinion, all Pitkin is tuff to knap. That's why I sell it instead of use it. Some folks really like the stuff though, and who can argue that it does make beautiful points. Attached is a point that knapper Don Rogers made from our pitkin a couple of years back along with a pic of some of the pitkin chunks. Jess Last Edited By: JLGraham 10/21/08 7:13 PM. Edited 1 times.
hardawaypoints		#11	[-]
Posts: 255 (10/22/08 12:10 PM) Reply Quote More My Recent Posts Message Me Connection Blocking Invite Ignore User's Posts	I got my hands on one piece of Pitkin at the N.C. Knap-In that a man brought by to see if I could turn it into anything. It came from the creek behind some of his family's property in Arkansas (he didn't say exactly where). It had cracks that limited the size of point I could make, but it worked O.K. once I got one going. I made a small Kirk corner notch out of his rock and gave it to him. If I had a free supply nearby I'd learn to like it. Jim
KYMountainMan		#12	[-]
Posts: 67 (10/22/08 12:13 PM) Reply Quote More My Recent Posts Message Me Connection Blocking Invite Ignore User's Posts	We have an unlimited supply, so buy all you want!
George Looney	Hello Jim	#13	[-]
Posts: 11 (10/24/08 6:06 PM) Reply Quote More My Recent Posts Message Me Connection Blocking Invite Ignore User's Posts	It's a small world,,that was my nephew Joe Don Looney,,his wife Tina and little Jordon you made the point for. He sent me pics from the knap-in,,he is sooo hooked on this knapping thing now ,,and will no-dought fill his truck full when back in Arkansas this Nov...Did he get your addy so he can turn you on to a mess of it ??.I will show him what the high grade looks like,,holler back. glooneytoon@yahoo.com and thanks for showing him the ropes of knapping. when I sent him the rocks,,I just told him to watch a few knappers and whichever one was the most help and would take time to talk to you,,,them give the rocks to that person..again,,thanks for being that person.
KYMountainMan		#14	[-]
Posts: 70 (10/24/08 6:55 PM) Reply Quote More My Recent Posts Message Me Connection Blocking Invite Ignore User's Posts	George Looney wrote: It's a small world,,that was my nephew Joe Don Looney,,his wife Tina and little Jordon you made the point for. He sent me pics from the knap-in,,he is sooo hooked on this knapping thing now ,,and will no-dought fill his truck full when back in Arkansas this Nov...Did he get your addy so he can turn you on to a mess of it ??.I will show him what the high grade looks like,,holler back. glooneytoon@yahoo.com and thanks for showing him the ropes of knapping. when I sent him the rocks,,I just told him to watch a few knappers and whichever one was the most help and would take time to talk to you,,,them give the rocks to that person..again,,thanks for being that person. Are you trying to hijack our thread?
CurtisSmith		#15	[-]
Posts: 179 (10/24/08 7:36 PM) Reply Quote More My Recent Posts Message Me Connection Blocking Invite Ignore User's Posts	Goerge, I didn't know you were on this board. I tried to call you the other day. Since I started driving and bought the house I have hardly had any time to do any real knapping other than spall out a little rock and test other pieces. I still owe you a nice 6 inch Clovis out of some Pitkin to match the one you showed me. I will be at the Last Sunday Knap-in up in Paris this weekend. I will grab a couple of the bigger piece of Pitkin and see if I can get a good one made for you. I tried to get one out of the lower grade stuff since more of it is bigger but it was too tough to flute right on the second flute. Also, My fiance's aunt lives up in Marshall and said they have a creek that goes thru their property. They may have some connections for you to get out and look for points in that area also. I will see what I can find out for you. I am also wanting to plan a trip with my fiance to go up there for a long weekend sometime and would love to introduce ya'll to her. Also, My grandparents say hi and my granmother loves the birdhouse and bowl she got from you and brags about it to everyone. We really appreciate the hospitality ya'll show us. If you are ever down in the DFW area of Texas and need a place to stay just give me a holler. Just in case you don't have it my number is 817-713-9686. Talk to you later, Curtis

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